Loose leaf book



p 1931- LE ROI E. HUTCHINGS 1,825,351

LOOS E LEAF BOOK Filed Oct. 6, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m1; wif; W

orzzqg Sept. 29, 1931. LE ROIE. HUTCHINGS 1,825,351

LOOSE LEAF BOOK Filed Oct. 6, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ma 5%" if;

Patented Sept. 29, 1931 NYFEED ,P NT

minor n-nurcrrrnes; GIT-BUFFALQ-qNEW YORK, asszenonmoREMINGTONRAND11110.,

"SF-NEW YORK,-1\I.;-Y.

QLOOSE LEAF, BOOK npplicationyfiled oetober 6,1928. SeriaLN o. 310,506.

I 1 This invention. relates to books adaptedto removably contain leaves whose edges; are in overlapping visible relation, and isf'directed" to particular improven'ients' over copending V application, Serial No, 118,978, filedJune The (present invention, improves over the structure shownin the copendingapplication byeliminating a pair of bars which promembers which are adapted to secure the leaf rests, the operat ng member and the base vide a mounting for theleaf rests on the base plate and further by ,uti'lizing atset of bolt plate in assembled relation and permit and control both lateral and longitudinal movement of the leaf rests relative to thebasej plate, in addition to otherspecific changes of less, importance.

,Theinvention comprehends the provision of a pair of leaf rests mounted for longitudinall and lateral movement-relative to each other and the base plate, which are secured directly to the baseplate by a series of suita H able securing elements, in the form Of posts 1 or studs engaged in slots in the base member and slots in the leaf rests.

Another object of theinvention resides in providing forthe special connection of the leaf rests directly tothefbaseplate and'the s V guiding of the leaf rests inlateral and longitudinal movement relativetoeach other and the base plate by special, means' formed oni the baseplateand ,theleaf rests,,wh1bh oo- Uoperate with one another in this guiding action, and which alsorserve-to prevent -rocking of the leaf rests out of their normal plane Y. in engaged relation of the; leaf-impalmg' ,prongs,.,in order that these prongs may be rigidly heldin engaged and aligned relation in leaf-retainingpositionso that leaves carried thereby may be shifted from one set of prongs to the other.

A further object of'the invention resides .in providing for the special cooperation of the leaf rests with the base plate in. securing proper alignment of the leaf-lmpal ng prongs as they are moved into leaf-retaining cooperation, so that'the leaf rests are rigidly re- ,tained against movement relative to the base plate inleaf-iet-ainingposition or, coopera nf lir ,bers for reta tlve relat on.

-sertion or shifting of sheets andcertain parts broken away.

tion, against either lateral or longitudinal movement.

Another. object of the invention resides in providing" for the direct connection of the leaf rests to the base plate, on whichtliey are guided for lateral, and longitudinalyshifting movement, and in cooperation with which they are retained inleaf-retainii1g position,

while a suitable plate memberis mounted on the base plate for relat ve sl ding movement,

and manually operable to secure the lateral movement of the leaf rests apart and toward each other,'for movement into or out of leafretaining cooperation; this plate membe'ribe- H 'ormed to lock'the" leaf rests leaf-ree taming cooperation with each other and with thefbase plate, to prevent subsequent movement until the plate member is manually operated. a i

The invention alsoincludes the provision 'lo of a substantially simple assembly of parts for a device of this character in which the leaf] rests, the Operating member, and 7 base platefornith'emain parts and which ha sui uri e i ext nd -s7 t u a d e a n a of he em lng h m i ssemb Ope The invention eomprehends numerous other objects residing in the particular con- 30 v struction and association of the parts which are more particularly pointedv out in the. f0lw ng. de a ed? descrip a i $1 claims directed to a preferred form ofjthe invention, it; being understood, lioweverg that gg variouschanges in the size, shape and rela- 't on of parts aswell as in the specific arrangement thereof, may. be ,made, without departing from the spirit and-scope-ofthe which suitable pintles extend for Fig. 3 is a perspective showing the base plate and actuating member in disassembled relation.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line ll of Fig. 2, the parts being illustrated in sheet-retaining relation.

Fig. is a transverse section taken on line 55 of Fig. 2, the parts being illustrated in sheet-retaining relation,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on line 66 of Fig. 2, the parts being illustrated in sheet-retaining relation.

A rigid base plate 1 forms the back of the book and is provided at the side edges with spaced extensions formed to provide hinge knuckles 2 which receive complementary hinge knuckles on the covers 3 through hingedly mounting the covers on the base plate. The base plate is formed intermediate its ends with the upwardly offset portions 4 extending transversely of the base plate and formed with slots 5 at opposite ends thereof. These upwardly offset portions 4: provide bosses which slidably mount the operating member 6 in spaced relation above the base plate 1, thereby providing bearing surfaces for the operating member of substantially small area for reducing friction between the operating member and the base plate. Intermediate the bosses and also at opposite ends of the base plate 1 are formed pairs of guide tongues 7 and 8, each tongue being formed from a strip portion struck out of the base plate 1 which extends laterally from the central portion of the base plate, and has the end formed to provide a laterally extending lip portion 9 in spaced parallel relation to the base plate. The lips 9 on the tongues 7 extend toward one side of the base plate while the lips 9 on the tongues 8 extend toward the opposite side of the base plate. The operating member 6' is formed in the central portion with an opening 10 through whlch the pair of tongues 7 and 8 in the central portion of the base plate project, the opening being of a size to permit free movement of the operating member without engaging the tongues.

The opposite end portions of the operating member 6 are slotted longitudinally in the central portion as indicated at 11, to receive the upstanding portions of the tongues 7 and 8 adjacent the opposite ends of the base plate 1 so that said tongues '7' and 8 form retaining and guide means for the operating member 6, whereby a limited longitudinal movement thereof on and relative to the base plate is pe 'mitted for a purpose which will be presently described. The portion of the operating member 6 overlying each of the bosses a on the base plate, par ticularly those parts overlying the slots 5, are formed with pairs of slots 12 and 13. The slots of each pair correspond in shape and extend in the same direction. Each slot includes a longitudinally extending portion 14 and an obliquely extending portion 15. The obliquely extending portions of the slots of each pair are arranged so that they will diverge from the port-ions 14 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, the purpose of this being hereafter set forth.

One end portion of the operating member 6 adjacent to the slot 11 is formed with a transversely extending slot 16 which receives the laterally extendingend 17 on the operating strip 18, which is formed at the opposite end with a laterally projecting handle portion 19 adapted for manual engagement so that the operating member 6 may be moved longitudinally on the base plate 1. This operating strip 18 extends through the slot 20 in the guide flange 21 formed on the end of the base plate 1 at one side thereof, which flange has a bearing flange extending laterally therefrom as indicated at 22, over the base plate 1 in spaced parallel relation thereto. The opposite end of the base plate at the opposite side thereof is formed with similar flanges and 24 as clearly indicated in Fig. 3, the flange 23 being imperforate.

Above the base plate and operating member G, and in spaced relation above the operating member (3, are mounted a pair of leaf re 25 and 26, which are formed of elongated metal strips having the outer edges provided with upstanding flanges 27 from the upper edges of which extend a plurality of spaced parallel leaf-impaling prongs 28. T he leaf-impaling prongs on each of the leaf rests 25 and 26 are curved inwardly toward the central portion of the leaf rests and the base plate, and with the parts in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the ends of these impaling prongs engage in interfitting relation. The ends of the impaling prongs on the leaf rest 26 are formed with V-shaped notches 29, while the ends on the leaf prongs 28 carried by the leaf rest 25 are formed with complementary projections 30. The projections 30 are received in the V-shaped notches 29 when the leaf rests are in adj acent relation as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, so as to form a continuous leaf-supporting structure for retaining a plurality of leaves thereon in a manner to be presently described.

The leaf rests 25 and 2G, in the portions which overlie the bosses a on the base plate,

are formed with longitudinally extending slots 31. These slots 31 extend substantially at right-angles to the slots 5 and the slots 31 in each leaf rest are in longitudinal alignment. A retaining member 32 extends through each slot 5 and the corresponding slot 31 in the leaf rests, these retaining members also extending through the slots 12 and 13 in the operating member. Each retaining member comprises a tubular portion 33 internally threaded to receive the retaining screw 34 while its lower end is formed with the annular flange 35 engaging in the recess formed in the bottom of the base plate 1 by the formation of the bosses 4. Bearing washers 36 are positioned on the tubular portions 33 of the retaining members between the operating member 6 and the leaf rests-25 and 26, while retaining washers 37 are positioned on the upper face of the leaf rests 25 and 26 and held in connection with the tubular member 33 by the retaining screws 34. These retaining members mounted in this relation and extending through the base plate, operatingmember, and the leaf rests, serve to slidably'mount and to assemble these parts for relative sliding movement, on and relative to :one another. These retaining members also form ameans for transmitting motion from the operating member to the leaf rests so as to secure the operation of the leaf rests for direct lateral movement apart or together, according to the direction of longitudinal movement of the operating member 6' relative to the base plate. This is obtained by reason of the obliquely extending portions 15 of the slots 12 and 13. The longitudinally extending portions of the slots 12 and 13, indicated by the numeral 14:, serve to receive the retaining members 32 for retaining the leaf rests 25 and 2G in ad'- jacont relation as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, with the ends of the leaf-impaling prongs 28 on each in engaged leaf-retaining relation.

The outer edges of the leaf rests, at the end portions beyond the ends of the operating member 6, are provided with spacing projections 38 which engagethe' surface of the base plate 1 and serve to maintain the leaf rests 25 and 26 in the same horizontal plane in all positions of movement'relative to the base plate, and in substantially parallel relation thereto with the cooperation of theretaining members 32. In order to prevent any rocking of the leaf rests 'in their cooperating leaf-retaining positions as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the lips 9 on the tongues 7 and 8 engage the upper faces of the inner edges of these leaf rests at'a plurality of points intermediate of and beyond the points of engagement by the retaining members, the leaf rests being recessed on the inner edges as illustrated at 39 to accommodate the lateral portions of these tongues 7 and "8 when the leaf rests are moved into adj acent leaf-retaining relation. These recesses 39 are of sutlicient length to permit the movement of the leaf rests together in any of the several relative positions permitted by slots 31 and 43. The inwardly extending guide flanges 22 and 24 at the opposite ends of the baseplate engage the upper faces of the leaf rests at the ends and cooperate to retain these leaf rests in the same horizontal plane, and also aid in guiding the leaf rests in their longitudinal movement for shi-ftng sheets in a manner which will be hereafter described. 7 The reciprocation of the operating member 6 through the manual operation'thereof by engaging the fingers with the handle portion 19' will serve to unlock the leaf rests from leaf-retaining position in which they are held by the operation of the longitudinal portions 14 of the slots 12 and 13 on the retaining members 32, and obtain the direct lateral movement apart of these leaf-retaining memhere so as to separate the ends of the leaf-impaling prongs 28. a With this separation of theleaf-impaling prongs, the sheets 40 mounted thereon in overlapping offset relation to provide a visible marginal portion on each sheet, and secured on the impaling prongs by having the extensions 41 provided with openings 42 reoeivingthese prongs, may be removed from the book, and from bound relationtherein by lifting the sheets off of the ends of the separated leaf-retaining prongs 28. When one or more of the leaves have been removed from the leaf-impaling prongs 28, it will be noted that the visible margin of the sheets 40 adjacent the removed sheets will be substantially increased over the former uniform margin displayed should the leafsretaining prongs be moved into cooperating leaf-retaining position. As in the copending application heretofore mentioned, it is desirable to maintain a uniform visible margin on all of the sheets in the book and for this purpose, the leaf rests 25 and 26 are longitudinally shiftable independent of one another in the separated relation as shown in Fig. 2 so that the sheets may be shifted for repositioning all the sheets in order that they may have the same marginal exposure in the book when the leaf rests are moved into leafretaining position.

In order to shift the sheets longitudinally of the book, oneor the other of the leaf rests is shifted a distance approximating that between one or two prongs according to whether one or two sheets have been moved from the hinder or book. Under some conditions it may be desirable to shift both of the leaf rests, which in some instances may reach the limit of shifting movement as shown in Fig.

2. After'the shifting of the leaf rests, the 1;:

handle portion 19 is operated to move the leaf rests into adjacent leaf-retaining position so that the ends of the leaf-engaging prongs will engage,following which the leaves on one side of the book may be shifted and moved to the other side. The leaf rests may again be separated by operating the operating member 6 and the shifting again repeated if desired or necessary by placing the desired groupsof sheets on the prongs of the desired leaf rests before separation.

After all offthe sheets are shifted so as to obtain uniform visible margins thereon, they are all shifted'to one side of the book, and the operating memberfi is moved to separate the leaf rests and permit their longitudinal sliding movement. The leaf rests are then moved longitudinally until the ends thereof engage the corresponding flanges 21 and 23 on the base plate, when all of the leaf-engaging prongs on one leaf rest will be in alignment with all of the leaf-engaging prongs on the other leaf rest, and so that the ends of the leaf rests will not project beyond the ends of the base plate as shown in Fig. 2. lfihen the operating member 6 is again moved to bring the leaf rests into adjacent relation to move the leaf-retaining prongs into cooperating leaf-retaining relation.

In ord r t the leaf-engaging prongs 28 on the leaf 1 s will be ali ned in the various shifted positions of the leaf rests longitudinally relative to the base plate, such as that illustrated in Fig. 2, one end of eechleaf rest is formed with a series of notches on the inner edge spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between the centers of the leafengaging prongs on 13 Th e slots ne rests. on

are adapted to receive the ends of the upstanding llanges 21 and 23 on the base plate so that they must be aligned with these flanges in order to permit movement of the leaf rests toward each other into leaf-retaining H ition. Should the position of one leaf re. relative to the other be such that the le a the edge portion of the leaf rest will engage with the of the corresponding flange 21 or 23 prevent movement of the leaf rests into ret ining cooperation. The corners of the rests adjacent the recesses 43 are rounded so that should the leaf rests be in ate alignment for receiving the M or one of the fi *ges 21. or .23, the rounded edges will secure movement and alignment of the leaf rests when the operating plate 6 moves the leaf rests together.

1 26 are moved eng ing prongs are not aligned,

Vfhen the leaf rests ano so that all of the leaf-im'naling prongs on one leaf rest are aligned with all of th prongs on the other leaf rest, the Hang 2i and v. cooperate with both leaf rests in leaf-retaining position and prevent any endwise -wenient hereof by reason of the engageof the flanges with recessed portions 43 eme corners of the leaf rests. 'lh-e l q l f x4v' l -b4- 1' o i rests is 0 came, in and the enga, U

\ sent of the projections t, ed notches 29. The o 'ierating member 6 \vl'oll the retaining members 32, and the lien l... and 23 on the base plate cooperate to e i the leaf rests against longitudinal in: dent. and also operate to prevent lateral separation thereof.

The lateral separation of the leaf-impaling prongs in leai'i-retaining position is prevented by the cooperation obtained between flanges 22 and 2a and the lips 9 on the tongues i" and 8, and the upper surface of the leaf rests in leaf-retaining position. The

spacing projections 38 cooperate with these flanges and tongues and prevent any tendency of the leaf rests to rock on the washers of the retaining members and thereby prevent any tendency of the interengaged end portions of the leaf-impaling prongs 28 to separate. These parts also effectively cooperate to retain the ends of the leaf-impaling prongs in proper aligned relation so that they will not cut or fray the paper adjacent to the openings during the turning of the sheets from one side of the book to the other while the same is being used.

From the above description it will be understood that this improved loose leaf book comprises essentially three main parts which include the base plate, the operating member 6 and the pair of leaf rests, which are secured in operative relation by means of the retain ing members 32 extending through each of the members and permitting sliding motion of one relative to another in order to obtain the lateral separation of the leaf rests as well the longitudinal movement thereof relative to the base plate.

What is claimed is:

l. A unit for a record system comprising a base plate. an operating member thereon, a of lear rests on the operating member, a L of retaining members extending through said base plate, operating member and one of the leaf rests, another group of retaining members extending through said base plate, operating member and remaining leaf rest, said retaining members including means for maintaining said base plate, operating member and leaf rests in adjacent assembled relation, said base plate, operating member and leaf rests, being formed for cooperation with each other and the retaining members, whereby the operating member is longitudinally movable relative to the base plate to secure movement of the leaf rests laterally apart relative to the base plate, while said leaf rests are independently and longitudinally movable relative to the base plate when moved apart, but retained against longitudinal movement when moved together.

2. A unit for a record system, comprising a rigid base plate, an operating member, a pair of leaf rests, and a plurality of retaining members connected to the base plate for lateral sliding movement thereon, extending through slots formed in the operating 1nemer to permit longitudinal movement of said operating member relative to the base plate, and having a slidable connection with said leaf rests to permit only longitudinal movement of the leaf rests relative thereto, said operating member having the slots therein formed to secure lateral sliding movement of the retaining members on the base plate during the longitudinal movement of the 0peratin member, said base plate and leaf rests being formed for cooperation to permit in dependent longitudinal sliding movement of the leaf rests on the retaining members rela tive to the base plate when moved into lateral separated positions, and for preventing longitudinal movement of said leaf rests in adjacent relation.

3. A unit for a record system, comprising a rigid base plate, an operating member, a pair of leaf rests, and a plurality of retaining members connected to the base plate for lateral sliding movement, connected to the leaf rests for permitting longitudinal sliding movement of said leaf rests thereon, and extending through slots formed in said operating member, the slots in said operating member being formed to secure lateral sliding movement of said retaining members on the base plate during longitudinal movement of said operating member relative to the base plate, said base plate and leaf rests being formed for cooperation to permit independent longitudinal movement of the leaf rests on the retaining members relative to the base plate in lateral separated position and to prevent such longitudinal movement of the leaf rests relative to the base plate and re taining members in adjacent relation, said base plate and leaf rests being formed for further cooperation to prevent movement of said leaf rests into adjacent relation except when said leaf rests are in predetermined longitudinal relation to one another and said base plate.

l. A unit for a record system, comprising a rigid base plate, an operating member, a pair of leaf rests, plurality of retaining members extending through and retaining said base plate, operating member and leaf rests in adjacent assembled relation, said operatingmember being formed to secure lateral separation of said leaf rests during longitudinal movement thereof relative to the base plate in one direction, said retaining members and said leaf rests being formed for 00- operation to provide independent longitudinal movement of the leaf rests when in lateral separated relation, and leaf-impaling prongs mounted on said leaf rests having the free ends adapted for cooperation in adja cent positions of the leaf rests to retain leaves for movement thereon, said base plate and said leaf rests being formed for cooperation to permit movement of the leaf rests into adj acent relation only when said leaf-impaling prongs are aligned with one another, and for retaining the ends of said leaf-retaining prongs in engaged relation when said leaf rests are held in acent relation.

5. A unit for a record system, comp ising a rigid base plate, a pair of leaf rests in parallel relation to said base plate, retaining studs directly connecting said leaf rests with said base plate, said studs having sliding connection with said base plate for transverse sliding movement thereon, said leafrests havingsliding connection with said stud members for longitudinal movement thereon rela% tive to theibase plate, and means carried by the base plate connectedto said studs,manually operable for moving said studs and said leaf rests therewith laterally relative to said base platdand leafimpaling prongs carried by saidleaf rests adapted for leaf-retaining cooperation when said leaf rests are retained in adjacent relation. j j

6. A unit for a record system, comprising alrigid base plate, apair of leafrests mounted on said plate in single plane in spaced parallel relation to said base plate by means including stud members having lateral" sliding connection with said base plate and longitudinal sliding connection withsaid leaf rests, and operating means interposed between said leaf .rests and said base plate .and engaged with said studs for sliding said studs laterally on said base plate towardand from each other, so as to secure lateral sliding movement of said leaf rests in theaforementioned plane, said leaf rests being longitudinally movable on said studs relative to said base-plate when in separated relation, and having cooperation with said baserplate when in adjacent relation to prevent the longitudinal sliding thereof.

7. A unit for-a record system comprising a rigid base plate formed with a. pair of transversely extending bosses in spaced parallel relation, an operating member seated on said bosses for sliding movement relative to said base plate longitudinally thereof, a pair of leaf rests in a single plane in parallel relation to said base plate and adjacent said operating member, and retaining members extending through said leaf rests, operating member and base plate, said retaining members engaging in transversely extending slots formed in the bosses on said base plate, and having bearing portions extending between said operating member and said leaf rests providing bearings for said leaf rests and spacing said rests from said operating member, said retaining members having slidable connection with said leaf rests to permit longitudinal movement of said leaf rests relative to the base plate thereon, and said operating member being formed to engage and operate said retaining members to move said leaf rests laterally apart and together on said base plate, said leaf rests being formed for cooperation with portions of the base plate for longitudinal movement on said retaining members only when positioned in lateral separated relation.

8. A unit for a record system, comprising a rigid base plate formed with a pair of transversely extending bosses having laterally extending slots therein, a pair ofleaf rests above said base plate in a plane parallel to said base plate,- said leaf rests being an operating plate member disposed between said leaf rests and said base plate, having bearing support on said bosses, and having the portions thereof overlying said bosses formed with diverging slots, retaining members, each retaining member extending through one of the longitudinal slots in said leaf rests, one of said diverging slots in said operating member and one of said transversely extending slots in the bosses on said base member and secured to said members for sliding movement in the slots therein, guide projections formed on said base member engaging said leaf rests for guiding said leaf rests in lateral and longitudinal sliding movement, said operating plate member being formed with slots slidably engaging said guide projections to permit only longitudinal movement of said operating member relative to said base plate, said operating member securing lateral movement of said leaf rests on said base member in the same plane during the longitudinal movement thereof on the base member, and a pair of leaf-impaling prongs mounted on said leaf rests. LE ROI EVHUTCHINGS. 

